how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Does anyone out there have any information or links to essays etc. on what it takes to improve your fingers? (in an exercise capacity as opposed to simple long and hard practice)
I am a highland piper and whistle player and am torn on whether improved strength is the answer. Some folk argue that improving finger strength can be detrimental and hinder agility.
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
You are actually asking about two different things. 1)Keeping your hand working for decades, where both strength & agility are important. 2) Improving your playing through practice, muscle memory, & agility.Also learning to relax as you play & hold your instrument. Bagpipe ornamentation is great for developing independent movement of your fingers. Develop your sense of feeling as you play. With the open holes you can feel their shape & also feel the wind passing through. That actually sounds silly, but it can be quite beneficial.
I just want to add that your hands are very important. Do what you can to improve your playing but it is a lot of repetition. Do not tire your fingers every time you play. Try to shake them out & do some non-musical movement as often as you can. It might not help your playing but your hands will last longer.
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
There is an article call What can studying musicians tell us about motor control of the hand which you should find if you google it. i can email it if you contact me. It is quite interesting. I can only recommend Jim McGilvaray's rhythmic fingerwork book for highland pipes if you have never used this then do so as if you pretty much follow how he approaches practice this will increase strength, accuracy and agility - without doubt
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Backer, I don't remember if it was you who posted that tabman link a while ago -- if it is, thank you. They are really great exercises. I go through them while I jog in the morning.
I also use a spring hand grip thingy during my commute - the thing is to go nice and slow so as not to overdo it.
It's even better for strengthening the fingers than the spring-grip.
I agree that there's nothing like actually playing, but I do notice a difference on stamina and nimbleness if I backslide on the exercises - and I feel a difference when I start up again.
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
thanks backer, that was exactly the kind of thing i was looking for. tai chi seems to make sense as it is not mere strength that is sought but more concerted and controlled force.
i do disagree with those who state that pure practice is the only way to optimize your fingering abilities. of course practice is the main driving force of improvement and may get us to 95% of our ability, but we are always searching for that extra 5%! just look at how any sort of athlete or sportsman/ woman will train - they do not simply repeat time and time again their pursuit but will focus on specifics. I beleive we should also take this approach with musical fingers.
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Practice... try harder things... push the envelope, little muscles you don't know you have develop. I only know it from the guitar angle, but the important thing is to get those little muscles strong enough, and they may be in the hands and wrists more than in the actual fingers, that you don't have a death grip in the instrument no matter what it is.
If you look at any great player on any instrument, they have a real ease about playing, they don't hold anything too tight, their hands are loose and fluid looking. It's all from practice and building hand strength. As Kings says maybe there are other ways than practicing to build the strength, which you can then apply to the instrument. I still think it's more about practice, but it can't hurt to keep your arms and hands strong in other ways too if it helps.
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Practice is good to improve your playing but you need other types of movement . With practice you use the least amount of movement. Stretching is also important (before & after).
Try to be aware of repetitive movement. It is part of the playing but can mess up some tendons.
Pipers & flute players notice how far your fingers need to span to reach the holes. I play a Low C & need to stretch the space between my middle & ring finger. If not the tendon will let me know.
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
A similar problem for many fiddlers, especially in the earlier stages, is reaching that "b" (or even the "c") on the E-string with the pinky without moving out of the first position. This should be possible for every player (except in the most extreme cases) and is part of standard training for the classical violinist - fiddlers don't want to be left behind in such a useful part of technique compared with those guys, do they
The answer, in this instance, is not just stretching - it is to do with hand position and especially the position of the thumb on the neck relative to the other fingers.
One very important general point - don't do any exercise, stretching, strengthening or whatever, that results in pain. That's a sign that damage is being done. The composer Schumann was forced to abandon a sparkling career as a pianist because of damage done to his hand by an exercising device.
They sell a variety of products and videos/books of exercises for enhancing finger strength, independence and dexterity. Ihave one of their books and have found them effective when I do them. They have video samples of some of the exercises on the web site, so you can try some of them and see what you think.
how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Does anyone out there have any information or links to essays etc. on what it takes to improve your fingers? (in an exercise capacity as opposed to simple long and hard practice)
I am a highland piper and whistle player and am torn on whether improved strength is the answer. Some folk argue that improving finger strength can be detrimental and hinder agility.
Any thoughts?
# Posted on June 1st 2007 by kings taxes
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Practice. You don't need strength as much as you need muscle memory. Both come with consistent practice.
# Posted on June 1st 2007 by Hanley
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Playing the piano and speaking as a whistler, I tend to agree that the precision-ct/piper's reference to muscle memory- is more critical.
But more than just practice repetitively, there need to be practices that focus on nothing but the touch and agility you are looking for.
The strength you need will happen as a by-product.
# Posted on June 1st 2007 by zippydw
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
You are actually asking about two different things. 1)Keeping your hand working for decades, where both strength & agility are important. 2) Improving your playing through practice, muscle memory, & agility.Also learning to relax as you play & hold your instrument. Bagpipe ornamentation is great for developing independent movement of your fingers. Develop your sense of feeling as you play. With the open holes you can feel their shape & also feel the wind passing through. That actually sounds silly, but it can be quite beneficial.
I just want to add that your hands are very important. Do what you can to improve your playing but it is a lot of repetition. Do not tire your fingers every time you play. Try to shake them out & do some non-musical movement as often as you can. It might not help your playing but your hands will last longer.
# Posted on June 1st 2007 by Ben Steen
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
This works! http://www.tabmantables.com/cowling.html
# Posted on June 2nd 2007 by Backer
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
There is an article call What can studying musicians tell us about motor control of the hand which you should find if you google it. i can email it if you contact me. It is quite interesting. I can only recommend Jim McGilvaray's rhythmic fingerwork book for highland pipes if you have never used this then do so as if you pretty much follow how he approaches practice this will increase strength, accuracy and agility - without doubt
# Posted on June 2nd 2007 by Alasdair
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Backer, I don't remember if it was you who posted that tabman link a while ago -- if it is, thank you. They are really great exercises. I go through them while I jog in the morning.
I also use a spring hand grip thingy during my commute - the thing is to go nice and slow so as not to overdo it.
I've also been using a handmaster:
http://www.sharmusic.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=HM1&Cat=
It's even better for strengthening the fingers than the spring-grip.
I agree that there's nothing like actually playing, but I do notice a difference on stamina and nimbleness if I backslide on the exercises - and I feel a difference when I start up again.
# Posted on June 2nd 2007 by fidkid
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
thanks backer, that was exactly the kind of thing i was looking for. tai chi seems to make sense as it is not mere strength that is sought but more concerted and controlled force.
i do disagree with those who state that pure practice is the only way to optimize your fingering abilities. of course practice is the main driving force of improvement and may get us to 95% of our ability, but we are always searching for that extra 5%! just look at how any sort of athlete or sportsman/ woman will train - they do not simply repeat time and time again their pursuit but will focus on specifics. I beleive we should also take this approach with musical fingers.
# Posted on June 3rd 2007 by kings taxes
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Practice... try harder things... push the envelope, little muscles you don't know you have develop. I only know it from the guitar angle, but the important thing is to get those little muscles strong enough, and they may be in the hands and wrists more than in the actual fingers, that you don't have a death grip in the instrument no matter what it is.
If you look at any great player on any instrument, they have a real ease about playing, they don't hold anything too tight, their hands are loose and fluid looking. It's all from practice and building hand strength. As Kings says maybe there are other ways than practicing to build the strength, which you can then apply to the instrument. I still think it's more about practice, but it can't hurt to keep your arms and hands strong in other ways too if it helps.
# Posted on June 3rd 2007 by irisnevins
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Practice is good to improve your playing but you need other types of movement . With practice you use the least amount of movement. Stretching is also important (before & after).
Try to be aware of repetitive movement. It is part of the playing but can mess up some tendons.
Pipers & flute players notice how far your fingers need to span to reach the holes. I play a Low C & need to stretch the space between my middle & ring finger. If not the tendon will let me know.
# Posted on June 3rd 2007 by Ben Steen
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
A similar problem for many fiddlers, especially in the earlier stages, is reaching that "b" (or even the "c") on the E-string with the pinky without moving out of the first position. This should be possible for every player (except in the most extreme cases) and is part of standard training for the classical violinist - fiddlers don't want to be left behind in such a useful part of technique compared with those guys, do they
The answer, in this instance, is not just stretching - it is to do with hand position and especially the position of the thumb on the neck relative to the other fingers.
One very important general point - don't do any exercise, stretching, strengthening or whatever, that results in pain. That's a sign that damage is being done. The composer Schumann was forced to abandon a sparkling career as a pianist because of damage done to his hand by an exercising device.
# Posted on June 3rd 2007 by Trevor Jennings
Re: how to optimise finger strength/ agility/ accuracy
Have a look at:
http://www.handhealth.com/
They sell a variety of products and videos/books of exercises for enhancing finger strength, independence and dexterity. Ihave one of their books and have found them effective when I do them. They have video samples of some of the exercises on the web site, so you can try some of them and see what you think.
Jeff
# Posted on June 4th 2007 by jeff_willner